The "Blue Streaks Baseball" Story

It was an ordinary day. Just finished using "Gimp" software which is similar to "Photoshop", to doctor some of the ads that will appear in the 2011 Manheim Township Baseball Yearbook. Ihave been printing this publication since 1988 when my oldest son, Derek, played for the "Blue Streaks". In 1988 Dave Haughney took over as the head baseball coach at Manheim Township High School and started a parent's group to help raise money for items that wereneeded by the baseball team. The group was called the "Dugout Club" and they started by raising money to put a fence around the outfield of the high school baseball field. Other projects included a scoreboard, lights for night games, a small field house behind home plate that was used for storage of equipment and a concession stand, while the second floor of the structure was the pressbox. Eventually money paid for a fence entirely around the field as well as new dugouts for both teams. MT baseball has the best facility in Lancaster County. To help raise the money, a yearbook was proposed that would have ads in it as well as stats, player profiles, rosters, schedules, coaches histories, and school records. Since I taught printing at the high school and my son was on the team, Dave thought I was the logical choice to print the book. I have been producing the book ever since that time. The yearbook was a big success from the start. The first few years I did all the designing, composition, photos, and printing of the book. It grew is size until it had about 60 pages every year. Eventually others helped with the cover design and the composition of the pages. The yearbookwas printed in the school colors of blue and white. In 2009, the cover of the yearbook was changed to color which added a new dimension to the book. I try to have the book completed early in the baseball season so it can go on sale at the concession stand. About a month ago I started to update as much of the book that I could using "InDesign C5" software. Worked on the Patrons and ads as well as updating the coaches profiles and records from the past. Two weeks ago, after the team was selected, I went to the field and took digital photos of all players, coaches, managers, scorekeepers, webmasters, and a team photo of the JV and Varsity team for inclusion in the book. My helper this year is a senior, Adam Gegg, who is the webmaster for the team. He plans to major in Computer Technology in college next year, so he has been a tremendous help with the yearbook. The color covers are printed professionally and I will do the assembly. Used to print 400-500, but the ads have dwindled with the economy the last few years and I now print about 150-200 books. Manage to get free paper from Lindemeyer Paper Company in Lancaster. I eventually will relenquish my position as publisher, but until that date, "Play Ball!" It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - pixs from the top are: first MT Baseball Yearbook that I produced in 1988, photo of this year's cover, LDub putting a plate on the AB Dick 9850 offset press, and a collection of MT Baseball history showing all the yearbooks, vintage jerseys and hats, and team photos. Jersey on the far right is one that I used when I played for the team in the late 50s and early 60s.